From 'Finding Your Roots' to Your FamilySearch Discoveries

From 'Finding Your Roots' to Your FamilySearch Discoveries

This guide will help you leverage the ancestral stories shared on 'Finding Your Roots' to make your own family history discoveries on FamilySearch.org.

Step 1: Gather Information While You Watch

• As you watch 'Finding Your Roots,' pay close attention to the specific details revealed about the featured celebrity's ancestors.
• Note down key data: full names, birth dates, death dates, marriage dates, and precise locations (city, county, state, country) for their direct ancestors.
• Prioritize individuals with unique names or those for whom several pieces of identifying information are provided.

Step 2: Access Your FamilySearch Account

• Go to FamilySearch.org in your web browser.
• Click the "Sign In" button located in the top right corner of the page.
• If you do not have a free FamilySearch account, click "Free Account" and follow the on-screen prompts to create one.

Step 3: Search for the Featured Ancestors

• Once signed in, click on "Search" in the top menu bar, then select "Records."
• Enter the full name of a 'Finding Your Roots' celebrity or one of their well-documented ancestors into the "First Names" and "Last Names" fields.
• Add any known "Birth Place" and "Birth Year" to narrow your search.
• Click the "Search" button.
• Review the search results. If you find a matching individual, click on their name to navigate to their Person Page.

Step 4: Explore Their Family Tree Connections

• From the Person Page, look for the "Family Tree" button or a "View Tree" option, often presented as various tree views (e.g., Portrait, Landscape, Fan Chart).
• Navigate the tree to locate and confirm the ancestors whose stories were highlighted on 'Finding Your Roots.'
• Examine the information already present on FamilySearch, paying close attention to attached sources; these are vital for verifying details.

Step 5: Verify Information and Record Discoveries

• For each ancestor, navigate to their individual Person Page.
• Review the "Details," "Sources," and "Memories" tabs.
• Compare the facts on FamilySearch with what you learned from the show.
• Look for "Record Hints" (a blue square with a document icon). Click to review these and attach matching records as sources.
• If you find new information on FamilySearch or can fill a gap from the show's details, you've made a discovery!
• To add new information (like a missing family member), use the "Add Spouse" or "Add Child" links on the Person Page, always including a source.

Step 6: Expand Your Research Further

• Once you've confirmed the direct line, consider exploring the siblings, aunts, and uncles of these ancestors.
• Utilize the "Search Records" option directly from an individual's Person Page to find more documents related to them.
• Browse the "Memories" section for shared photos, stories, and documents that bring ancestors' lives to light.
• The "Map" feature, also found on a Person Page, can visually illustrate the locations of their life events, potentially sparking new search avenues.